Improvement in stand-pipes of gas-retorts



MOSESCOOIVIBS, Jr.

Improvement in Stand Pipes for Gas Retorts.

N0. 121,276. 4 Patented Nov-28,1871.

Scale Ho Scale '0 24.

v kwmhv Maw UNITED STATES MOSES COOMBS, .13., OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN STAND-PIPES OF GAS-RETORTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 121,276, dated November 28, 1871.

To all whom 'Lt may concern.-

Be it known that I, MOSES GOOMBS, Jr., of

.Youngstown, in the county of Mahoning and inder or jacket, closed at the bottom, through which a continuous current of cold water is kept flowing during the time occupied in carbonizing the charge of coal in the retort; the object of which is to prevent the walls of the stand-pipe from becoming highly heated, as is usual, (especially with clay retorts and high heats,) to temperatures which cause the tar to become concentrated and thickened to a pitchy consistence, and caked on the walls of the stand-pipe in such manner as completely to choke up the latter in time.

In my mode of operation I am enabled to urge the heat to such high points, Without the the least danger of obstruction of the standpipes, that I can thus obtain, in the same time, from a bench of retorts, double the volume of gas; and moreover, with improvement in the illuminating power and the purity of the same. The tar which condenses in the stand-pipes is so fluid in its consistence that it readily flows back into the vestibule of the retort, and, being in part carbonized again, adds to the volume and richness of the gas. Besides these advantages, there is less work thrown upon the condensers and scrubbers, and all danger of condensation of tar in the purifiers is obviated.

Figure 1 represents the front face of a bench of three retorts, R R R, to which my improvement is attached, with a vertical section of the latter through the mouth-pieces and stand-pipes 'S S S, exhibiting the mode of supply of water to the water-jackets, and the mode of conducting off the overflow. Fig. 2 exhibits a vertical section through the dotted line X Y in Fig. 1.

A A is the cold-water main or trough, supplied with cold water, situated at such height as is necessary. This may be supported on the bridge pieces of the stand-pipes, or in any other convenient way. B B B are tubes, which I usually make of about half-inch internal caliber, furnished with cocks G O O for conducting the water from the cold-water main A A to the lower ends of the water-jackets J J J. These jackets J J J are of such dimensions as to leave a space for the water around the stand-pipe of from three-quarters to one inch. 0 O O represent the overflow-pipes, through which intercommunication is established (in a bench of threes) between the Water-jackets and the overflow of all conducted to the funnel and wastepipe F P. In benches of fives or sixes, or larger numbers, there may, of course, be provided two, three, or more series of overflow-pipes at different levels, in order more to equalize the heights or lengths of the Water-jackets. The arrangement of these will be obvious to any mechanic of ordinary skill, and it is unnecessary to detail them.

It is obvious that the results and purposes of my invention would be partly accomplished by covering the stand-pipe with a jacket of a porous material, with pores kept filled with cold water, by means of a current thereof kept flowing over the same; but I prefer the concentric cylindrical jacket, as above specified.

While a bench of retorts is being first heated up, which occupies from ten to fourteen days, I find it of advantage to keep a slight flow of water through the jackets, which prevents the joints firom burning out and leaking. When the first charges are made I increase the flow until the stream at F is from one-eighth to threeeighths inch, or more, in diameter, according to the quantity of gas to be made. If water is abundant, a three-eighths-inch stream, at least, is always advisable; but a smaller one will be beneficial. In a larger bench the stream should be enlarged in proportion.

I claim as my invention- The combination, with the stand-pipe of a gasretort, of a cylinder or jacket surrounding the same, which is kept filled with water of a temperature lower than that of the gas evolved from the retort, all substantially as set forth.

' MOSES OOOMBS, JR.

Witnesses:

HENRY WURK,

CHARLES J. EAMES. (66) 

